Cousin Ari (soon to be Graf)

Hi all my wonderful family. I am slowly getting the hang of this. It is so great to be able to interact with my family across the world this way. Sometimes I feel so isolated, but I hear snippets of news now and then, and they have been like little chocolates for my spirit. I never turn down chocolate. Our family has grown in leaps and heaps in just the last 2 years. I love it. For those new additions who don't know me, I am Ariana Kathleen Merrill, Auntie Dinah Smylie's third of five. I have been dating Derick Graf for going on two years now. We met at work and took it very slow at first. In due time, he joined the church and now we can't seem to get along very well without eachother. We will have been engaged a year March 31st, and I am very ready to be married already!! We did have to push the wedding back a week to accomodate Sariah's HS graduation. Am I a nice sister or what? At any rate, we will be sealed in the Columbus temple on June 6 with a reception to follow on the 7th. I have been working wedding plans in with my full nursing program schedule, working part time to keep gas in my car, and fulfilling my calling as primary president. As Derick and I are watching all our pennies, we are attempting the most economical, yet beautiful, garden reception as possible. The Lord has indeed opened the windows of heaven. My best finds to date have been my gorgeous wedding dress that really does make me feel like a princess (brand new at goodwill marked down to $30) and 40 large white pillar candle ($1 a piece from Odd Lots). I love you all